Operating lever for accelerators



March 25, 1924, 1,487,813

A. J. SCHWARTZ OPERATING LEVER FOR ACCELERATORS Filed March 1, 1923INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

1 UNETEE STATES ALFRED J. SCHWARTZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

OPERATING LEVER.

FOR ACGELERATORS.

Application filed March 1, 1923. Serial No. 622,046.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. SCHWARTZ, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and Stateof Michigan, have invented a new and usefulv Operating Lever forAccelerators, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention has reference, generally, to means adapted forregulating the velocity of prime movers or power-transmitting machinery,and it more especially relates to devices capable of varying the supplyof gas or vapor to, and thereby controlling the speed of, internalcombustion engines, such, for instance, as are now extensively employedfor running automobiles or motor-vehicles.

The object of the-invention is, first, to provide an improved device ofthe nature set forth which shall be most efficient for the purposecontemplated, both. by furnishing always an adequate amount of motivepower or energy to the engine for any desired rate of speed withinestablished limits, and by grading the supply thereof in every case tomeet the actual requirement, with proper regard for needed expenditureand heedful conservation.

Secondly, the invention aims at providing a reliable device of thecharacter described, that can be depended on to act promptly, and infact instantaneously, in delivering, checking, or withholding the amountof energy which it is able to supply, so that the engine fittedtherewith may be speeded up, restrained, or slowed down to suitdifferent times, localities, and conditions.

Another object is to produce a device of the class mentioned, soconstructed and mounted for operation that it will admit of receivingand imparting firm, steady, and progressive impulses, in such manner asto preclude undue vibration of the engine which it supplies with gas orvapor, thus insuring the smooth-running thereof, and of themotor-vehicle as well, with all the material advantages therebyobtained.

A further object in producing a device of the type specified is so todesign the same as to render it available for both old and newmotor-vehicles, and to make it of such simple construction and easyapplication that it can be manufactured and set in operative position byany mechanic of average intellect, provided with. plain tools and commonmaterial. a

Other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obviousand in partbe more fully brought out in the detailed description thereofhereinafter contained. The invention consists of the novel improvements,parts, combinations, and features of construction herein shown anddescribed, and pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention in itspreferred embodiments, and wherein similar elements are designated bycorresponding reference characters wherever they occur,-

Figure 1 is a'top plan view of a practical form of the invention,applicable to any make or style of vehicle equipped with an internalcombustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of thesame form of thisimproved device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View, showing the de vice on a reduced scale, asapplied to the bottom board of a motor-vehicle, at the forward endthereof; 7

Fig. 4 is a broken transverse section of the said bottom board, withpart of the device thereto affixed; and

Fig. 5 is a similar section of the board, shown in connection with amodified form of the invention. a

The improved device constituting the subject-matter hereof has beenshown in the annexed drawing, and is intended for use as an appliance tobe worked usually by the foot, as described hereinafter. However, itwill be obvious to persons skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, upon ,becoming conversant with the details thereof, that thesame could be fitted for manual operation, and also might beincorporated in several different constructions. The accompanyingdrawing, there fore, is produced merely as affording a suitable andpractical exemplifica-tion of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 3 and 4, the numeral 11 indicates the bottompart of an automobile body, having an upwardly-inclined board 12,located in front, to which the customary dash 13 is attached. The board12, pursuant to the present invention, as applied to a newmotor-vehicle, is provided with an aperture 16, preferably 810B.

gate and rectangular in outline. This aperture is situated in thevicinity of the pedals ordinarily employed to operate the clutch andbrake pertaining to the actuating mechanism of the vehicle, and bypreference also, it is made to run transversely of the latter andlongitudinally of the board.

' Bordering the aperture 16 aforesaid, is a metal plate 17 having a slot18, out therethrough, of coextensive dimensions. The plate 17 iscountersunkin the board 12, and secured thereto by screws 19 (Fig. 3)pass ing through holes 21 (Fig. 1). The slot 18 is conveniently producedby incising the metal of the plate along a median longitudinal line;next cutting it on short parallel lines transverse thereto, as at 22and.

23; and then parting it so as to form opposite flanges 24 and 25,fitting over the adjacent sides of the boards aperture. The flanges neednot extend the full length of the latter at their lower edges, andtherefore the extremities 26 of each may be beveled or cut obliquelydownward, as shown in Fig. 2, to remove unnecessary metal and improvethe appearance. lVithin the plate above described, is mounted a lever29, designed for oscillation through the slot therein. This lever, asclearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is longer than the said slot, andpositioned diagonally with relation to the same, one of its endsextending under and the other end over the corresponding extremities ofthe plate. The lower end of the lever is arranged to swing about a pivotor hinge-pin 31, secured transversely to the plate, within a three-sidedinclosure formed by turning down a terminal portion of the latter, as at32, and deflecting the corners 33 and 34 of the bent portion inwardlyfrom opposite sides. Atthe upper end, the lever projects above theplate, beyond the adjoining extremity of the slot. Thus mounted, thelever is permanently held under the plate at its pivoted end, andconstantly kept above it at the free end.

Preferably, the lever- 29 is made of rectangular shape, similar to thatof the plate and slot, and is smooth-surfaced throughout. It is furtherprovided with lateral flanges 37 and 38, depending from its oppositelongitudinal edges. The latternamed flanges 37 38, coact with thepreviously-mentioned flanges 24, 25, of the plate 17, in guiding thelever in its oscillatory movements in and lengthwise of the slot 18. Theopposite extremities of the flanges 37, 38 are trimmed off on obliquelines, as at 39, in conformity'with the similar bevels 26, on theflanges 24, 25. Beyond its said flanges, the lever is turned up at oneend to form a loop 41, encircling the-pivot 31, and remains straight atthe other end, which runs above the slot in the of the invention nowunder consideration,

the connection between the lever and the valve simply consists of anintermediate link or rod 44, the upper end of which is externallythreaded and engages an internal thread formed in a head or socket-piece45, suspended by a pivot 46, from the underside of the lever, betweenits side flanges 37 and 38. The connection is with the central part ofthe lever, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but it can as well be made eitherforward or to the rear thereof, as the flanges 37, 38 are provided atseveral points in their length with aligned holes, as 47, through whichthe pivot 46 may be passed. The shifting of the connection, it isunderstood, would vary the purchase of the lever, and incidentallyincrease or decrease its range of oscillation. The rod 44 is normallyraised, and when released after being depressed to open the throttlevalve, it is returned to its initial position, with the leversurmounting the same, through the action of a well-known form ofresilient mechanism, which it is not necessary here to describe orillustrate.

The operation of the device, as thus far described, is as follows:Having been applied to the automobile a little to the right of thesteering-wheel thereof, in the manner represented by full lines in Fig.3, the lever 29 stands in a favorable position to be placed under thechauifeurs right foot, and to be operated thereby. It may be assumed,for the purposes of this specification, that the steering-wheel islocated as at 51, in the view last named, with the clutch and brakepedals at 52 and 53, respectively, and the gear-shift lever standing upfrom the floor 11, of the automobile body, at 54, all as ordinarilyconstructed. The foot, being placed across the slotted plate 17, nearthe hinged or pivoted end of thelever, obtains at once a firm bearingthereon. and upon the contiguous por" tions of the upwardly inclinedboard 12, on both sides of the elongated aperture 16. From this point,the foot can be easily and gradually moved toward the right,transversely with relation to the said aperture and the correspondingslot 18 of the plate 17 thereby operating to depress the lever 29, andconsequentlv to open the throttle valve more or less, epending on theextent of the sliding movement of the foot in that direction. It isunderstood that in the meantime thefoot shouldbe kept in contact withthe plate and the floor into which the latter is countersunk;- Using thecontact as a guide, the chauffeur will never fail to attain the desiredresult or" 0 ening the valve. positively, uniformly, an without jar,concussion, or vibration of any sort. As a consequence, the smoothrunning of the vehicle is assured, and the life thereof proportionatelyprolonged. The lever automatically rises to the position which itpreviously occupied, as soon as relieved from the 1pressure of theoperators foot, owing to t e nature of its connection with the throttlevalve, hereinbefore mentioned.

Similar results would be obtained by cutting the aperture 16 across theboard 12, instead of lengthwise thereof, and accordingly by placing theslotted plate 17 in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. Insuch a case, the foot operating the lever would be moved up and down inthe direction of the slot in the plate, and 'not to the Fig. 5illustrates a co struction particuright or left, as in the yeviousinstance.

larly adapted for use motor-vehicles, to which the present invention isto be applied. The board 12 is not cut into to pro vide-therein anelongate aperture, in this modified construction, but there is placedupon it another board 57, affording a like aperture 58. The slottedplate 17 and other parts of the device, already described, are fitted tothe latter-named board and aperture, obviously with identical results.The link or rod that connects the operating lever and throttle valve maybe passed through any opening before provided in the bottom of thevehicle fora similar purpose; and in the absence thereof, it is a simplematter to bore a hole, as at 59, in the board 12, directly under theaperture 58, so as to effeet the required connection.

While this improved device has been shown and described in its preferredforms, 'it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in theshape, size, proportion, and arrangement of the several parts thereof,without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by theclaims hereto appended. p

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. A device of the character described including, in combination with aslotted plate fitted in an aperturedmember of a motor vehicle, adepressible lever diagonally mounted in the slot of said platelengthwise thereof, flanges .on said lever guiding the same conjointlywith the opposite sides of said slot, a self-rising link adapted to openthe throttle valve of the vehicles engine, and means flexiblyconnecting'said link to said lever.

2. An operating lever for the accelerating mechanismof an automobileengine, in-

cluding, in combination with an apertured sion of the lever by a slidingmovement of the foot in contact with the slotted plate.

3. A device operable to open the throttle valve of a motor vehicleengine, including, in combination with a foot board of the vehicle boredthrough to let pass a working member of said valve, another boardsuperimposed upon said foot board having an elongate aperture entered bysaid member, a slotted plate fitted in said aperture, a lever exceedingin length the slot of said plate mounted diagonally therethi'ough, saidlever being in position to be depressed by the foot sliding in contactwith the slotted plate, and means pivotally connecting the lever withthe valve working member;

ALFRED-J. SCHWARTZ. a 5.

